Apr.17 (GMM) McLaren may not be Stoffel Vandoorne’s only option to step up into a full-time race cockpit for 2017. The Belgian, strongly backed by the British team, made an impressive debut recently in Bahrain, where Fernando Alonso sat out the race with chest injuries. Spaniard Alonso is back in action this weekend, but 24-year-old […]
Vettel plays down risk of F1 driver strike
Apr.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down speculation F1 drivers’ anger at the political situation in the sport could lead to a strike. The response to the controversial letter penned recently by the drivers’ association GPDA, in which the drivers hit out at F1’s governance, was generally dismissive. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, for instance, called […]
Pirelli now close to FIA contract – Hembery
Apr.16 (GMM) Pirelli is now edging close to finally sealing its new deal to stay in F1 beyond the end of this season. The deal with Bernie Ecclestone is already done for 2017 and beyond, but details over the next contract with the FIA have held up the rubber stamp. The biggest issues are over […]
Mallya to miss more F1 races as passport suspended
Apr.16 (GMM) Vijay Mallya will miss more F1 races in the immediate future, after the Indian government suspended his passport. Indian reports say the Force India boss and co-owner “stopped cooperating with investigators” over the huge debts owed over the collapse of his airline Kingfisher. “Passport of Vijay Mallya suspended by the government of India […]
McLaren wants to keep Alonso beyond 2017
Apr.16 (GMM) McLaren-Honda has opened the door for Fernando Alonso to renew his contract beyond the end of next year. “If he continues working and driving in the same way for us, we would like him to stay,” team boss Eric Boullier told the Spanish sports daily Marca in China. Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert […]
Ferrari poised to challenge Mercedes in China
Apr.16 (GMM) Ferrari may be poised in China to secure its first victory of 2016. The red cars were first and second in Friday practice at the Shanghai circuit, and fast not only over a single lap but also in the crucial ‘long runs’. Mercedes, whose Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have won every grand […]
Rosberg heading for new Mercedes deal – report
Apr.16 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is on course to secure a new contract to keep racing at Mercedes beyond 2016. That is the news of Britain’s Telegraph newspaper, reporting from the scene of the Chinese grand prix where the German driver could extend his winning streak to six consecutive races. “The finer details of his new […]
Todt should let F1 war go to court – Mosley
Apr.16 (GMM) Jean Todt’s predecessor says the Frenchman should put formula one back on the right track by having the current agreements challenged in court. Amid a poisonous political climate at present and fierce criticism of the sport’s deadlocked governance processes and rules, current president Todt admitted in Bahrain recently that the FIA should have […]
Gene Haas aims fire at F1 ‘whiners’
Apr.16 (GMM) Haas, the new American team, has stepped up the tone of its rhetoric amid criticism of its close alliance with Ferrari. The team’s two points finishes in Australia and Bahrain respectively have sparked controversy in the pitlane that driver Romain Grosjean brands as “jealousy”. Technical boss Gunther Steiner, meanwhile, said Haas is doing […]
Hungary secures F1 race through 2026
Apr.15 (GMM) Hungary’s place on the F1 calendar is secure for a decade. Reports out of Budapest say organisers of the annual race at the Hungaroring have inked a new-five year extension that will now see the deal run until 2026. The news broke as the circuit launched its complete re-asphalting of the twisty layout. […]
Toro Rosso engine could be least powerful – Sainz
Apr.15 (GMM) Carlos Sainz thinks it is possible Toro Rosso is already the team with the least amount of horse power on the grid. Although the Faenza team switched from struggling Renault power for 2016, Mercedes’ Paddy Lowe said recently he actually thinks Ferrari’s 2015-specification engine is producing the least amount of power in F1 […]
Steiner tells Haas critics to ‘read the rules’
Apr.15 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says he is unfazed amid criticism of Haas’ controversial approach to F1. After two strong points finishes in Australia and Bahrain, some of the American outfit’s established rivals have questioned whether allowing the relationship with Ferrari is the right way forward for F1. “I think everyone has a right to their […]
Bottas gets turn with new Williams nose
Apr.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas will get his turn with Williams’ new front nose and wing this weekend in China. Two weeks ago in Bahrain, it was teammate Felipe Massa who ran the new pieces, with the Brazilian admitting the jury is out as to whether or not they are actually an improvement. “We will again […]
Magnussen did not expect McLaren joke anger
Apr.15 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has admitted he underestimated the impact that poking fun at former employer McLaren’s problems would have. Last week, some of the Dane’s fans on social media reacted angrily when he posted a ‘meme’ depicting a three-wheeled Ferrari and the caption: “Still faster than a McLaren”. “I had forgotten to think that […]
Mercedes duo squabble over dinner bill
Apr.15 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have for now confined their championship battle to a squabble over a dinner bill. World champion Hamilton, 17 points behind and five grid spots down in Shanghai after a gearbox change, pointed the finger at his Mercedes teammate after the high-profile gathering of F1 drivers for dinner in […]
Ferrari working on turbo fix for May
Apr.15 (GMM) Ferrari is designing a key upgrade for its turbo unit, according to German reports. The major daily Bild, and the specialist Auto Motor und Sport, say the turbo fix is due in May. And the broadcaster RTL says that until then, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will be running their current turbos – […]
Button opposed to new qualifying shakeup
Apr.15 (GMM) Jenson Button says he is opposed to ideas to improve F1 by shaking up the order of the grid. The sport has dropped its new ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format following fierce criticism, but bosses will now put their minds to a potential new shakeup for 2017. Bernie Ecclestone’s new preferred option is a […]
Full green light for Alonso, tyre problems in China
Apr.15 (GMM) After returning to action on Friday, Fernando Alonso got the green light to race on throughout the entire Chinese grand prix weekend. Following medical checks on Thursday, the FIA declared that the Spaniard would need to be checked again after driving in only the first Friday practice session. Alonso, who sustained chest injuries […]
Ecclestone eyeing new partners for Canada GP
Apr.15 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is getting involved in finding new investors for Montreal’s Canadian grand prix, according to a report in La Presse newspaper. The report said the F1 supremo has been in talks with Quebec businesspeople amid claims current promoter Francois Dumontier is struggling to pay suppliers on time. “This is not new,” argues […]
Herbert says Alonso incident upset wife
Apr.14 (GMM) Johnny Herbert says he stands by his recent criticism of Fernando Alonso, even after the Spaniard’s angry reaction. Having written in a column that Alonso should use the occasion of his chest injuries to retire, former F1 driver Herbert was gatecrashed by the angry Spaniard live on British television during the Bahrain race […]